They barred former Dakar mayor Khalifa Sall and ex-minister Karim Wade because of convictions for misuse of funds. AFP adds that the court authorised five candidates, including outgoing head of state Macky Sall.

The four other candidates in the 24 February vote will be a rising opposition MP, Ousmane Sonko; former prime minister Idrissa Seck; Madicke Niang, an associate of former president Abdoulaye Wade; and El Hadji Sall, of the Unity and Assembly Party (PUR).

President Sall, who is not related to the two other men bearing that name, was elected in 2012.